I’ve been on a deeply personal journey to heal my schizoaffective disorder through metabolic therapies—and I never expected the backlash that followed. In this video, I open up about the emotional toll of facing criticism, doubt, and even hostility from a community I once felt so connected to. I delve into the burden of internalized stigma and oppression, highlight the importance of empathy, and discuss the transformative power of owning our own healing. Throughout it all, I’m wrestling with the tension between believing in myself, confronting external judgment, and hoping that by sharing my story, others may feel empowered to find their own path to wellness.
Timestamps:
00:00 - What I've been feeling and struggling with
03:35 - The mental health care system and our understanding of mental illness is oppressive
05:01 - Building empathy and understanding around why this is all feeling so challenging for us (confronting internalizations)
08:27 - Acknowledging trauma from moving through these systems and identities
09:02 - Health complications (hormones) that have been making this feel heavier and more difficult
10:15 - Grateful for support and focusing on others who's lives are being improved through metabolic therapies too
11:20 - My advocacy has always been first and foremost about helping people figure out how to live well (even if how you do that looks different than me!)
12:40 - I want to keep engaging constructively and empathically
*MEDICAL KETO RESOURCES*
Learn more about medical keto for mental illness:
• Metabolic Mind YouTube channel: youtube.com/@metabolicmind and website: www.metabolicmind.org
• My keto coach, Nicole Laurent’s website: http://www.mentalhealthketo.com
• Brain Energy by Dr. Christopher Palmer: http://www.brainenergy.com
*JOIN OUR COMMUNITY*
• Metabolic Therapies for Mental Disorders: http://www.metabolictherapysupport.com
*HOW TO TEST YOUR KETONES* (important for medical keto!)
• Keto Mojo Monitor: Finger prick test for ketone and glucose levels. Save 10% with our affiliate link: http://bit.ly/ketomojolivingwell
• SiBio Continuous Monitor: Wearable for continuous ketone tracking. Save 15% with code “LIVINGWELL15” and link: http://bit.ly/sibio
*SPEAKING & CONSULTING*
Looking for a mental health advocate for your event or project? Learn more: http://www.laurenkennedywest.com
*MENTAL HEALTH APPAREL*
Support the channel and spread awareness with our apparel: http://livingwell.myspreadshop.com
*FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS*
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingwellwithschizophrenia
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livingwellschizophrenia
• X: https://x.com/LWSchizophrenia
• Website: http://www.livingwellafterschizophrenia.com
#schizophrenia #schizoaffective #schizoaffectivedisorder #mentalhealth #mentalillness #metabolichealth #medicalketo #metabolictherapy #recovery #backlash #identity